Environment
Malaysia lifts haze emergency in Sarawak, but warns pollution risks remain
Malaysia called off a haze emergency in Sarawak state on Borneo island on Monday but said very unhealthy levels of air pollution remained as a result of forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia. Sarawak has been heavily affected by fires in Indonesia’s Kalimantan, with the haze forcing school closures in some parts of the state. Kuala Lumpur on Friday activated the emergency after obtaining royal consent when pollution levels reached critical levels in Serian, about 65 kilometres (40 miles)...
Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak as haze from Indonesia worsens
Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak as haze from Indonesia worsens Country implements state of emergency in Sarawak’s Serian district after air pollution reaches ‘hazardous’ levels. Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in a district in Sarawak state after haze caused by wildfires in neighbouring Indonesia increased air pollution to “hazardous” levels. King Sultan Ibrahim “has consented to the declaration of emergency throughout Serian Division, Sarawak, following haze conditions...
South Korea, Japan discuss cooperation on emergency energy supply
South Korea, Japan discuss cooperation on emergency energy supply SEOUL, Sept 2 : South Korea and Japan held their first meeting on implementing a supply chain partnership in Tokyo, discussing ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, Seoul's Industry Ministry said on Wednesday. The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation on stable emergency supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG), crude oil and petroleum products, and exchanged views on coordinating responses to carbon emissions and supply...
Four areas in Sarawak record 'hazardous' air quality; East Malaysian state prepares for possible haze emergency
Four areas in Sarawak record 'hazardous' air quality; East Malaysian state prepares for possible haze emergency Sarawak’s Serian district recorded the worst Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 475 at 9am on Monday (Aug 31). But moderate air quality in Putrajaya enabled Malaysia’s National Day celebration in the administrative capital to proceed as scheduled. Four areas in Sarawak recorded “hazardous” air quality on Monday (Aug 31), the second day running that Malaysia has hit such levels as...
Breaking: 'Psychological risk': Australian scientists to abandon remote island over bird flu fears
Australia to withdraw staff from Macquarie Island due to 'psychological risk' of bird flu In short: The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) plans to extract its staff from Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean amid concerns about the impact of bird flu. The island is currently free of the virus, but the AAD is concerned that expeditioners could be exposed to significant psychological risks in the event of mass wildlife deaths. Australia's icebreaker RSV Nuyina will sail to the island in...
Breaking: Humpback whale beached at Port Kennedy in Perth's south
Wildlife authorities respond after humpback whale beached in Perth's south Posted A humpback whale has become beached on a sand bank in shallow water at Port Kennedy in Perth's southern suburbs. The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) staff are at the scene and liaising with vets to "determine the most appropriate course of action". Port Kennedy beach is closed, and members of the public are being asked to stay away from the area to avoid causing stress to the whale.
Activist seeks 'urgent' injunction to stop aerial brumby cull
Activist Carmen Jackson's application to stop an aerial cull was first heard by NSW Land and Environment Court at 1am today. Ms Jackson claims the pest control operation, targeting pigs, deer and brumbies in Yuraygir National Park, north of Coffs Harbour, is unlawful. In adjourning to 9am tomorrow, Justice Rachel Pepper said: "I would urge those submissions not be served at midnight or 1am."
Video shows young female pilot, 23, swimming off after surviving emergency water landing in Florida
A young Florida pilot was able to swim away from a dramatic water landing in the Atlantic Ocean off Boca Raton on Saturday in a video captured by a beachgoer. Faith Tenkley, 23, who has been a pilot for four years, maneuvered her family's twin-engine Piper around buildings as she approached the coast and avoided paddleboarders before finding an open stretch of water next to the beach, she told Gulf Coast News. The plane made a smooth water landing at about 9:40 a.m. local time.
Calls for urgent law change as UK’s largest water reuse system cannot be switched on
Recycling system in Cambridgeshire that could save thousands of litres a day is deemed not in line with rulesThe largest water reuse system in the UK, which could save thousands of litres of water a day for people living in one of the driest regions of the country, is not allowed to be switched on because of drinking water regulations. As water supplies in England reach critical levels, the Guardian can reveal that a model water recycling system within an urban housing development in...
Record-breaking investment in renewables could cement Canada as new clean energy superpower
The slated green energy plans could light, heat and cool all the homes in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver combined. Canadian officials have announced plans for "the largest clean energy investment in North American history." A total of CAN$70 billion (€43.6 billion) is earmarked to massively enhance wind and hydropower generation in the eastern part of the country.
Breaking: Tasmania confirms first case of deadly bird flu strain H5N1
Tasmania has confirmed its first case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu that has impacted wildlife across five other Australian states. Following testing which was completed overnight, a brown skua was confirmed to have had the virus. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) said it was alerted to the carcass of the bird by staff from the Parks and Wildlife Service, who have been undertaking active surveillance of coastal areas.
Solar eclipse eye damage urgent warning as expert lists symptoms to look out for
Solar eclipse eye damage urgent warning as expert lists symptoms to look out for The solar eclipse was a spectacular event, but eye health experts warn of a genuine risk of solar retinopathy for those who looked directly at it without protection Thousands of skygazers across the UK and the world have been treated to a breathtaking solar eclipse, with eye health specialists urging people to watch the spectacle through certified protective eyewear. The Moon passed directly between the Earth...
Live Updates: In Europe, the Total Solar Eclipse Is Only Hours Away
From Iceland to Spain, people have flocked to places where, briefly, the moon will completely block the sun.
El Niño could unleash ocean heat that sends 2026 into record-breaking territory
This summer's heat is human caused, not from El Niño – but the climate phenomenon is set to release pent-up ocean heat. Wildfires are burning in North America and Europe. Deadly heatwaves are suffocating cities and the world's oceans are the hottest ever recorded for this time of year.
Suffolk wildfire: National Trust launches emergency appeal to restore Dunwich Heath
Suffolk wildfire: National Trust launches emergency appeal to restore Dunwich Heath The National Trust has launched an emergency fundraising drive after a wildfire ripped through Dunwich Heath leaving the landscape "unrecognisable" and causing total devastation Firefighters are still battling a blaze that has caused "total devastation" to heathland in Suffolk, with the National Trust launching a public appeal to restore the beloved reserve. The charity has kicked off an emergency fundraising...
Breaking: Search for missing baby boy continues off SA coast
Search for missing baby boy continues off South Australia's South East coast Posted Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 12:20pm , updatedTue 28 Jul 2026 at 12:25pm Police have confirmed a child they are looking for in a major search operation off South Australia's coast is "about" two months old. The bodies of the boy's mother and sibling were found floating in the ocean yesterday, after authorities were called to Cape Northumberland, about 400 kilometres south-east of Adelaide.
Brazen Japanese Bears Are Breaking Into Homes and Raiding Pantries
Climate change and shifting demographics are driving the country’s Asiatic black bears closer to humans.
Grand Canyon rafting guide becomes first American woman to row solo across Pacific in record-breaking fashion
Grand Canyon rafting guide Kelsey Pfendler completed a record-breaking solo row across the Pacific Ocean on Friday, arriving in Hawaii after a more than 2,400-mile journey from California. Pfendler arrived at Honolulu Harbor aboard her 21-foot boat, Lily, after rowing alone for just under 44 days. Hundreds of supporters gathered to cheer her arrival after nearly a month and a half at sea.
Female American rower completes record-breaking solo journey
Female American rower completes record-breaking solo journey A Grand Canyon river rafting guide who aimed to become the first American woman to row across the mid-Pacific solo has completed a record-breaking journey from California to Hawaii HONOLULU -- A Grand Canyon river rafting guide who aimed to become the first American woman to row across the mid-Pacific solo has completed a record-breaking journey from California to Hawaii. Hundreds gathered to cheer on Kelsey Pfendler as she pulled...
Harrowing final minutes of woman dismembered by alligator and desperate emergency call
Harrowing final minutes of woman dismembered by alligator and desperate emergency call Family and friends have paid tribute to 'amazing' and 'fun-loving' Brittany Clark, who died after a brutal alligator attack in Florida A happy day out with loved ones turned into complete tragedy for Brittany Clark, despite frantic attempts to save her. The 31-year-old, from Orlando, was enjoying a hike in Florida's Little Big Econ State Forest with her boyfriend Chance Allison and her best friend Jayden...
UK braces for record-breaking temperatures as heatwave spreads through Europe – live
Temperatures expected to hit 40C in parts of the UK, as extreme heatwave spreads slowly eastwards, sparking warnings in Italy and the NetherlandsFrance records hottest day ever as 40 people drown across countryTell us: how is the heatwave in the UK and across Europe affecting you?Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesperson, said the agency is forecasting 39C as a headline maximum temperature on Thursday in the UK, most likely for somewhere in London or the south-east. “It is possible we could...
Europe battles record-breaking heat: is this the new normal? - The Latest
Europe is dealing with a debilitating heatwave, with schools closed, trains cancelled and France holding an emergency meeting after heat-related deaths. António Guterres, the UN chief, is urging the world to act on fossil fuels as the continent braces for record-breaking heat. Lucy Hough speaks to Europe environment correspondent Ajit Niranjan Continue reading...
Los Angeles under state of emergency due to warehouse fire
Los Angeles under state of emergency due to warehouse fire The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon and has been contained within the warehouse, but continues to burn, sending up fumes that smell of burning plastic. Los Angeles was under a state of emergency Saturday (Jun 20) as fire crews fought a days-long battle against a stubborn warehouse blaze that has filled the air with acrid black smoke.
Emergency hospital admissions fell after introduction of London’s T-charge and Ulez, study suggests
Imperial College scientists analysed health records before and after introduction of air pollution reduction zonesLow emission and clean air zones attract controversy whenever they are proposed, but there is growing evidence that they work in improving air quality. The Bradford zone was followed by a reduction of about 25% in GP visits for heart and breathing problems and survey data shows that the central London zone was followed by a reduction in the likelihood of a person taking sick...
Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak town as haze pollution level hits 521
Malaysia declared an emergency on Friday in a town in Sarawak state on Borneo Island after air pollution breached the country’s emergency-level threshold linked to fires in neighbouring Indonesia. The Air Pollutant Index in Serian, a small agricultural town of just under 90,000 near the border of Indonesia’s Kalimantan province, surged to 521 on Friday, according to Malaysia’s environment department. Sarawak’s much larger capital, Kuching, also showed a hazardous reading of 311.
Danube falls too low for nuclear cooling, Romania declares energy alert
Romania has placed its energy sector under a nationwide 30-day state of alert after the Danube river levels fell to exceptionally low levels. This has forced Unit 1 at the Cernavodă nuclear plant offline and put Unit 2 under continuous review. Emergency river works have kept Unit 2 online for now, but the latest hydrological outlook says levels around the plant may keep falling through Aug. 16.
Total solar eclipse Aug. 12, 2026 live updates — 1 week to go
Total solar eclipse Aug. 12, 2026 live updates — 1 week to go Follow our live coverage of the total solar eclipse 2026 as we count down to eclipse day with the latest news, expert insight and updates before bringing you live reports from Greenland and Spain. On Aug. 12, 2026, Europe will experience its first total solar eclipse since 1999, as the moon's shadow sweeps across Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and the Balearic Islands. Along the narrow path of totality, day will briefly turn...
Clean energy push unfair on developing nations: CJI Surya Kant
NEW DELHI: CJI Surya Kant Friday told Commonwealth countries it was unfair that industrialised nations, who took two centuries to adopt clean energy, were asking nations in the process of industrialisation to move towards renewable energy within decades. Speaking at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, CJI Kant said, “Countries that are finally industrialising are being asked to move rapidly towards renewable power, and are often made to bear the brunt of criticism when they cannot move...
Calls for urgent law change as UK’s largest water reuse system cannot be switched on
Recycling system in Cambridgeshire that could save thousands of litres a day is deemed not in line with rulesThe largest water reuse system in the UK, which could save thousands of litres of water a day for people living in one of the driest regions of the country, is not allowed to be switched on because of drinking water regulations. As water supplies in England reach critical levels, the Guardian can reveal that a model water recycling system within an urban housing development in...